I plant mine as soon as they're received. I know some people pot them up but I plant them where they're going to stay. I always request the latest shipping possible - for Pickering's this is May Long weekend. The canes usually arrive with some pale growing shoots already sprouting. I just plant them like that and usually the shoots burn or freeze a bit (or die right off) but the canes will produce stronger ones. You can always cover them if hard frost is forecast.

Incidentally, I didn't end up placing a rose order this year and I'm glad I didn't. I still have snow drifts in my front yard and there's no way I'll have beds prepared for May Long weekend!

I am curious to know whether or not your buying a potted or bare root rose.

I forgot about this thread and thanks for bringing it back up.

I got my pickering order on April 7 and planted it that day and awaiting my order from palatine that should arrive on tuesday. YAY!

Donaldvancouver I got skunked on ghislaine and would like to take you up on your offer. I can be reached at filimek at me dot com ...thanks again.

Now would spring hurry up I am anxious to see first blooms (and growth!)

SCG

SCG, I was wondering how did your Reine des Violettes did this year, or did the deer munch it up ;-)

I'm sort of thinking of getting it.

From what I've read it needs to be fed regularly (sort of a prima donna) and it will have a 2nd flush only in it's 3rd year.

DId you grow it in part shade? How big it grew? Anything you liked, disliked so far.

What about General Jack? It was a very popular rose, in late 19th century.

Ahhhh,

Reine des VIolettes had a pretty much prime spot in my yard (no deer) and tossed out huge arms....while blooms where sparse , but steady, growth was vigourous. I do love the blooms and the scent is ahhhhhh to me.I think it tossed out 5-6 foot canes this year. It is covered in buds which I covered for the bad weather so I may be able to get photos for you.....

First year experience is positive. Oh yeah, I do, feed my plants on a regular basis.

General Jack never broke dormancy, among a company of others from that place....sigh... wish I could find it again...well in Canada.

SCG

Sorry to hear about General Jack. I was intrigued by it. When I was reading about HPs, there was half page of quotes about it. Apparently it was one of the top flowers grown by the flower trade. You know the good old times when roses where fragrant? I sincerely hope that Pickering gets back on their feet and offer their rare roses again. I always wondered why it fell out of fashion...

Good to hear your Reine is having a 2nd flush. I assume it's in full sun?

true-blue

Sorry I missed this over a month ago.

I, too, am disappointed on the few I lost. Of course, they were ones I REALLY wanted.

Regarding RdV, since my last post it has tossed out a few more canes and put on a lot of growth. It is taking on more of a low rambler habit, not really what I wanted for the placement I chose. I was expecting more of a tall arching habit as it is now 10' tip to tip along the ground. I think next year I will have to train it. Regarding sun exposure, yes it would be considered to be in full sun.

SCG

Thanks for the update SCG and no fret with missing my post!

I understand what you say about the tall arching habit, a trait of albas btw, but if RdV is cane hardy, you can try training it as a pillar or a fountain. The fact that it is thornless makes it good candidate for this type of treatment, plus you'll get more blooms that way :-)

- Bob

True-blue - I also have to mention that RvD was one of 4 out of all my roses that didn't get defoliated by the deer. It also bloomed, on what it had, consistently in flushes through the summer. I hope it grows into the tall arching habit or it will need to be moved. I think you miss typed as RdV is a Hybrid Perpetual, probably like me trying to multitask and type. :)

SCG

SCG sorry missed your post. My turn I guess :-)

What I meant was that Albas have the tendency to have the growth you desire not the HPs. Tried to cram to much info in the same sentence!

Maybe the deer didn't like the peppery taste of the leaves.
Anyway it seems like a fantastic rose, I'm happy you're enjoying it.

Haha no worries.

You might be a bit right on taste. Looking out in the yard some classes got nibbled (heavily) others munched on and the rest were the full meal deal. The alba's and hybrid musks were one class that got heavily nibbled on, rugosa's and HP's munched while the bourbons and Explorer roses they cleaned the plate.

I do have high hopes for RdV. i am really looking forward to next spring........

SCG

SCG any sign of spring at your end? How is your RdV?
Here is still freezing cold and still a lot of snow here and there.

Yeah been really nice here for a while. We had a very mild winter as I was able to rake my lawn on Feb 14 and the frost has been out of the ground for over a month. Unfortunately before we got all the good snow cover we got one day of -29 and all my young roses took a big hit. A majority of them died back to the ground, RdV was no exception. I am sure the late pruning by the deer was an issue with the plants using energy to rebuild instead of storing for winter. Those that were hit by the deer definitely show more cane dieback. If the roses come back from what is left I think I will lose only 2 but I am a little skeptical.

Today the morning is crisp (-4) with a predicted high of +15

Sorry to hear your misadventures with the weather & deer. I don't know if it applies to you, but take this advice with some grain of salt: Some say let the don't dead head the roses after the 2nd flush, so they know that it is time for them to rest. Also some cut any new "late" growth. As it won't have anytime to harden off.....

I finally ordered RdV from Palatines. Will get it late April. Mine will be in less than ideal spot....

I have heard that too, unfortunately most of these roses didn't have a first flush... Too many old wifes tales to know what to do.... an elderly lady here that considers herself a rosarian (she will tell you and you don't even have to ask :) she has never in her life had less than 3 roses and usually upwards of 5) says to cut them down between 8" and 12" from the ground the third weekend in September to guarantee they will over winter.

I will also add that the roses that did not fair as well also didn't start as well. It is seems very important in this climate to get nice healthy bare roots.

I am noticing across multiple species that it is all about cane size. If they didn't die back to the ground the place where they are still green is (measured) within half a millimetre the same diameter.

This year I am going to do something I never thought I would and do more winter protecting and I am going to do my best to encourage cane growth.

The roses that were hardy to the tip in my yard this year were just few: Mislabeled Alba we think Sauveleons, Alba Semi-plena (yay!), Morden Ruby, (mislabeled, I think) Morden Blush, Capt. Samuel Holland and last but not least John Davis. Even my rugosa's took a hit but they all started very slow.

SCG

The cutting down is a HT reflex probably.

The first 2-3 year are really important. I don't know how my roses have fared as they are more or less still under the snow.

I checked your rose list again, wow so many great roses. Many if not most of the OGRs should be hardy once established, a couple of more years and you'll be fine :-)

In my neck of woods, John Davis has had no die back what so ever. Even though we had the coldest February ever. I'm not so sure of semi-plena, I can see some brown canes, especially the wimpy ones. We'll see.

I am quite concerned about all the ones that died to the ground. The ones that had green canes are budding....I am impatient right now though.

I should update my list as they were out of some and things got switched around....Stanwell perpetual is looking like it might have life too..

SCG

Well it depends which ones you are talking about?
I have several tender roses and each year, I think their toast, but soon after I see them pumping up canes. If they managed this year, I will stop worrying about them. I'm sure Stanwell is fine.....

Yeah, Stanwell is fine as he is budding...the others are worrisome...but there is hope as there is green albeit not much.

With roses being out of stock, ones that didn't come out of dormancy, etc etc here is what is in my garden now. I don't plan on any new additions this year and canceled any orders. BUT being an addict I know I will get something LOL

Morden Sunrise

Rose de Recht

Madame Alfred Carriere

Gruss an Aachen (one can wonder that graft looks dead now)

Reine Des Violettes

Easy does it (not looking good)

Penelope

Felicia (graft looks dead, frost heaved it exposing graft)

Louis Odier

Skyrocket

Alba mislabeled (thining sauveleons)

Morden Blush (think mislabel)

Capt. Samual Holland

Morden Ruby

Campfire

Dutchess de Montebello

Rugelda

Reine Victoria (? on life)

Emily Carr

Comte de Chambord

Monte Blanc

Semi Plena

John Davis

Hot Cocoa

Stanwell Perpetual

Tuscany Superb

Double Delight (looks doubly dead at graft)

Roseraie De l'Hay (Was a tiny one cane wonder that looks like it made it)

Dr Eckner

Felicite et Perpetue

Mme legras de St. Germain

Belle Amour

Erinnerung de Brod

Lets pray they all make it :)

SCG

I have Felicia and it each year it looks dead and it sprouts all over the place.
Don't you plant the bud union of the "tender" rose 4-6" below soil level?
My HTs and miniatures somewhat survive this treatment.

Yes, I did plant it that low, or thought I did....it was heaved and was only a couple inches below.

Felicia should be fine. Mine is very ratty looking right now, still half bound in ice. Traditionally only 1' is alive the rest is dead even though under 6' of snow. This year I did a half attempted by putting some burlap around it will see if any cane survived.

My Sweet Chariot's just came out of the ice. What I worry about is that they are planted in a raised bed, albeit bud union 6" bellow. in the coldest part of the garden (no sun). Lots of Green stems. Looks alive and kicking.

Many rose play possum at this time of the year. Just wait a couple of weeks until everything is leafing and you'll be surprised how many of them, if not most of them are alive...

Btw sorry to see you didn't get Ghislaine. I would be curious to see how it will survive in zone 4. They grow one in the Montreal Botanical Gardens. I have to check it out.
There is thread going on Antique Rose Garden about this rose...

Yeah, was disappointing having to cancel that order. Ghislaine is one I really, really want...maybe next year.

I forgot to add 'Goldfinch' to the list....unfortunately it doesn't look good either but it was own root so we will see.

I pruned all the dead wood off the roses which caused me a lot of anxiety... almost nothing left and I was very conservative leaving anything I thought had the slightest chance. Most of the canes were black and often the bark was falling off....grrrr.... I waited till other roses were budding as my cue.......

Unfortunately I dug down to the graft of Felicia and it didn't look good....

Looking forward to a few of these to prove my under lying fear wrong....

SCG

Felicia lives!!! So far my no shows are 'Gruss an Achen', 'Reine Victoria' and 'double delight' all were weak last year. I really hope Gruss pulls through... John Davis wins the cane hardy battle exponentially.

SCG does MAC die to the ground each year or do you have any canes left?
How big does it become at the end of season? How does it flower?

How are your life support roses doing?

I've been amazed by Felicia. Last fall on whim I vaguely covered it's canes with a ratty burlap.
It is in a protect section of the garden, which never sees sun in the winter and gets covered with all the snow from the patio. so basically under 5' of snow give or take. 30" of cane survived.

SCG, If I remember the picture correctly, your Morden Blush looked like Marshall's Peace Garden Rose, I have both. It is a sport of Morden Blush.

True_blue MAC was new to my gardens last year and it had about 7' long canes in the fall and bloomed pretty well for the summer. I would not have considered it a 'strong' barefoot when I planted it. It died back to the ground this winter but so did EVERYTHING. We had another remarkably mild winter with lots and lots of freeze thaws. The roses that did have canes in February started to bud then and froze. 'John Davis' was the only rose that made it totally cane hardy.

Just when I was about to give up on 3 roses 'Double Delight' shocked me with about 1" of growth from the graft. I had actually purchased a replacement yesterday and was going to replant when I noticed it....I quickly ran back to town and swapped it out of 'Dream Come True' another rose not OGR style that I really like. 'Felicia' now has a pile of buds from the graft and I am thrilled. 'Reine Victoria' and 'Gruss an Achen' are the only two that have yet to show life. From talking with folks at the nursery I am quite lucky to have potentially lost as few as I did.

Wayne, I will post pics when it blooms this year to compare again. I know the nursery it was purchased from and they don't carry 'Marshall's Peace Garden Rose' nor does the nursery they purchase from so it will be interesting to see this year.

Hope everyone is have good rose growth!!!

SCG

This is the damage.....

To my delight 'Double Delight'

And 'Felicia'

Yes, I did dig down to expose the grafts.....I had to know...

SCG

Thanks SCG for the report.
I'm happy that they are mostly back on track. Roses are quite resilient. I have a tender HT and each year I think its goner, it surprises me with new buds.
I wonder, what saved the rose canes this year was maybe the constant deep freeze we had.
And I'm thankful I didn't prune Felicia's brownish branches. They were all alive:

Our winter was a really weird one. We had a hard frost in early Sept, then it stayed warm until November when it plummeted to -28 after that it never got below -20 again and most days the highs were above freezing. I wonder if the fast deep freeze really had a big impact.

I wish my canes on 'Felicia' would have looked that good. Mine were pure black with bark peeling off :(

Wow, that's brutal!

SCG, how are your roses doing? Did they all survive?

BTW, Is Mme. LeGras cane hardy for you?

I lost Reine Victoria and Gruss an Aachen. The rest are doing great. Reine des Violettes is as big as it was at the end of last year and starting to bud. Mme. LeGras was new last year and would be a bad year to judge cane hardiness by.

On my phone and hate typing on it so will update, maybe even with pics, later.

Sorry to here about RV and GaA. Then Felicia survived; That's a tough little rose!

Do you mean RdV didn't lose any canes or did it just grew back all it lost?

Yes Felicia is a tough one, she grew some wonderfully tall canes that were loaded with buds then a freak wind storm came in and snapped them off at the union. I have since staked the others and buried the union again.

RdV is quite vigorous, albeit a slow starter, and is nearly the same size it was last fall and so far, knock on wood, has a better growth habit.....wasn't quite happy with the sprawling ground crawling growth last year.

Lets hope for a less harsh winter this year.

SCG

Thanks for the update SCG, my Felicia is in fool bloom now, though battered with the rain....

Photo showing my 'John Davis' that has reached considerable size, though reduced from the 11 ft it had previously topped out at ... as good as it might appear, it's not quite as healthy or full as it had been, maybe a deep dressing of compost is needed after flowering.

twrosz, your John Davis is spectacular! Thank you for sharing the photo. I am hopeful that mine will do as well as yours too - I planted it last year and already, it has been an amazing grower and is starting to bloom too! The foliage is so clean and healthy, and it just keeps on climbing up my trellis - I love this rose already!!! I want to thank you guys here as you're the ones who encouraged me to plant it last year. I am so glad that I listened! Thanks.

twrosz impressive JD. When I got mine, I try controlling mine's exuberant growth by somewhat pegging it along side the short fence behind it.

You mentioned a 2nd flush. Is it a couple of blooms like most explorers?

It does indeed look fantastic! Looks like something from a warmer zone, great job.

Wow, beautiful twrosz! I just planted a JD. It was covered in buds when I bought it and is full of blooms now. I love it but was regretting my choice and wishing I had picked a more guaranteed climber. I'm going to run out and get a trellis for sure now! You're given me hope LOL. Do you have yours tied up?

I got the new Canada Blooms and Olds College too ... I'll post some pics once I upload them from my camera.

Stunning blooms! I noticed Canada Blooms in the nurseries a few times, its scent was lovely.

True_blue, 'John Davis' will bloom again on new wood, though the second "flush" generally isn't very significant. In order to climb, this rose NEEDS deeply dug fertile soil and feeding, otherwise you'll just end up with a shrub, but an attractive one at that. 'JD' can take zone 3 cold, but the biggest challenge is dealing with winter desiccation drying up the stems. Alberta (central Alberta included) will at times experience amazingly BALMY winter temps and the reflected heat from buildings will only further intensify and desiccate this rose. So, I water deeply prior to freeze up and attempt to lean 'JD' away from the house ... it's a challenge to get almost any rose to climb in our cold prairie climate.

'Olds Collage Rose' looks especially nice, thanks for posting vstapes :)

Very nice pics. My JD is just finishing the spring, wonderful flush

Thanks Twrosz. That's what I suspected. Mine is in a deep and fertile
soil, but it probably doesn't receive as much as sun it needs for a 2nd
flush, being in part shade. Never had problems with desiccation, mine is
completely buried under snow, as I peg it to the fence to curb its
growth.

Does it ever set hips?

True_blue ... yes, 'JD' does set a small sprinkling of very small bright orange hips.

Thanks twrosz. Then I won't dead head :-)

Yes, I certainly wouldn't bother deadheading considering just how very hips are set.